The entries for the first card of racing of the 2023 Woodbine Thoroughbred season are due out Wednesday afternoon, April 19, and there is no better time to get out some fun trivia and facts.
The first race of a new season of racing after it has been closed for an extended period of time attracts a lot of excited bettors. Thus, the favourite will often be overbet. These include winter-raced horses who have shown speed in slightly longer sprints or invaders for US trainers seeking short dashes on the Tapeta.
However, overbet or not, the first or second favourites in the first race of a new Woodbine season have won 15 times in the last 25 years. Plus, the majority of the last 10 winners of the first race of the year were locally trained during the winter.
Take a look at the winners with notes since 1998:
2022 MY FINAL TRICK – took over from heavily-favoured Lime (Wesley Ward) to win for Daryl Hasmatali and Emma-Jayne Wilson
2021 FIVE DAYS IN MAY – opening day was June 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Frank DiGiulio’s filly was a 9-to-2 winner for trainer Bob Tiller and jockey Daisuke Fukumoto
2020 MAJESTIC FEVER – Opening day was June 6 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Darryl Holland, a top European rider who joined the Woodbine jockey colony in 2020, got his season off to a big start, bringing this 14-to-1 home for Vito Armata
2019 BROOKIES BEAR – at 4-to-5, this Colebrook Farms filly, trained by Ashlee Brnjas, won easily under Luis Contreras
2018 HOUDINI AFFAIR The 3rd first race of the year winner for jockey Rafael Hernandez came on this Chiefswood Stable’s 5-to-2 shot trained by Stuart Simon
2017 PRINCESS NIIGON – At 3-to-1, this gal was third favorite and trained by Julia Carey
2016 SPLASHY GIZMO – Trainer Tino Attard sent out this mare to win at 9-to-5 and Luis Contreras rode
2015 CIRCLE THE WORLD American-based trainer Wesley Ward had this well-bred Munnings filly ready to win at 2-to-5. Rafael Hernandez rode
2014 HIGH TEE – The grey mare won at 8-to-5 for trainer John Mattine and jockey Contreras
2013 FOOLISH – From last to first, jockey Todd Kabel guided this gal to win at 6-to-1 for Nick DeToro
2012 ABSOULUTE HEAVEN – owner and trainer Jim Ensom won with mare who was ridden by Steve Bahen
2011 NEW TOMORROW – Trainer Wesley Ward won the opener with this gal who was 2-to-5
2010 NEVERRGUWITHRICHIE – At 3-to-5, this youngster won for trainer Larry Rivellli
2009 FLASHY N CLASSY – Anne Cameron sent out John Terdick’s mare to win at 5-to-2 with Chantal Sutherland riding
horse-races.net photo from the 2009 first race at Woodbine
2008 HAVEUBEENTOLDTODAY – Eurico Rosa da Silva was on board this gal at 6-to-1 for Nick Gonzalez
2007 HELLO HALEY – Donver Stables’ filly was second favourite and trained by Josie Carroll
2006 FIRE POWER – This guy was 4-to-1 for owner Frank Romano and trainer Reade Baker
2005 MARYFIELD – She would go on to win the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint later in her career. Here she won her maiden for trainer Josie Carroll
2004 CANDY HAZE – The favourite was owned by Richard Englander and trained by Reade Baker
2003 BATTLEMENTS – Minshall Farms’ colt won at odds on under Steve Bahen
2002 CONSORTS CHOICE – Na Somsanith rode this gal to victory for trainer Darren Glennon
2001 AMERICAN IN PARIS – Owned and trained by Audre Cappuccitti and ridden by Todd Kabel
2000 *MI SCAT CAT – DR. CLARK won but was disqualified for interference at the start. Moved up was Mi Scat Cat
1999 IT’S ME – Owned and trainer Wesley Clayton sent out this guy to win with Rui Pimental riding.
1998 DOUBLE SURVIVOR – Jockey Brett Callaghan rode this one for trainer Tino Attard. They paid over $11 to win
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